Companies that are required by Section 9 of the Ontario Environmental Protection Act to obtain an environmental approval for air and noise emissions are now required to self register on the Environmental Activity & Sector Registry (EASR), or apply for an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA).  Details of the air and noise approval process are outlined in Ontario Regulation 419/05 - Air Pollution - Local Air Quality. 

The EASR is for businesses that have standard, routine operations with known environmental controls.  Businesses eligible to use registry include automotive refinishing facilities, those registering heating systems, and those registering stand-by power systems.  You can register your automotive refinishing facility, heating system, or stand-by power system using the EASR only if it meets certain eligibility requirements - detailed in Ontario Regulation 245/11.  If you are a business that already has an existing Certificate of Approval (Air & Noise) that covers an EASR-eligible activity, the approval will still be valid and you will not immediately need to register the activity.  You will need to register an eligible activity when you make a change to the activity that would have otherwise required an amendment to the approval, or by October 31, 2016.  The EASR application forms are available through the ONe-Source business portal at ServiceOntario. 

Activities that are not subject to the EASR process may instead be required to obtain an ECA. These activities include but are not limited to use of emergency generators, dust collectors, cooling towers, paint booths, fume hoods, welding operations, and storage tanks. Please note, if you have an existing Certificate of Approval (Air & Noise), it will continue to apply.  Application requirements for an ECA are similar to those previously required for a Certificate of Approval (Air & Noise) and include completing the application form, and submitting prescribed supporting documentation.  The ECA application form requires the applicant supply project information, site information, facility information, and payment information.  Preparation of the prescribed supporting documentation includes preparation of an emission summary and dispersion modeling (ESDM) report, which includes:

• Collection of site specific and equipment specific information and measurements
• Emission estimating using mass balance, emission factor, source measurement methods
• Running the computerized dispersion modeling program including assessment of self contamination (if applicable)
• Using the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) Noise Screening Form to calculate the minimum separation distance required between the noise sources a the facility and the nearest sensitive receptor, or conducting a detailed noise assessment at the facility
• Assembling the final report complete with figures, tables, dispersion modeling print-outs, supporting calculations, manufacturer specifications, and material safety data sheets

The completed application form and ESDM report, along with an MOE review fee which is calculated by the application form, is submitted to the MOE Environmental Approvals, Access & Service Integration Branch.  Duplicate copies are also submitted to the local MOE District Office for their files.  Following submission, the MOE screens the documents for completeness and sends a confirmation of receipt letter to the applicant.  The documents are then assigned to a MOE review engineer who conducts technical review of the documents.  Any questions the MOE review engineer has during the review are sent to the applicant's technical contact.  Upon completion of the review, the MOE prepares a draft ECA for applicant review, and/or a final ECA document. 

MTE Consultants Inc. is pleased to be part of EMC's 360° EHS program. They have extensive experience preparing environmental approval applications for our clients.  MTE has prepared applications for a large number of clients including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Formatop Manufacturing Company Limited, Conestoga College, and the City of Cambridge. Contact Amanda Doman, EMC Safety Group Administrator, for more information.